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Washington, D.C., March 6th Congressman Jim Moran, Virginia Democrat, joined with Representative Ray LaHood (R-IL) and Veterans for America to introduce legislation, the Lane Evans Mental Health and Benefits Act, that will provide U.S. servicemen and veterans better access to treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Supporting the troops means not only encouraging them during battle but also caring for those who return with the scars of war, said Moran. The crisis at Walter Reed Hospital makes clear that we are failing to fully support our troops. No amount of body armor can shield a soldier from the horrors of war. Only professional treatment can heal the mental wounds our brave men and women receive on the battlefield. This legislation seeks to prevent soldiers who need treatment from slipping through the cracks and to provide more uniform coverage for all who serve our country in the Global War on Terror.
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that occurs following the experience or witnessing of a life-threatening event such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or physical or sexual assault.
Symptoms of the disease include a repeated "re-living" of the event through flashbacks, nightmares and recurring memories, a lack of interest in what used to be normal activities which is accompanied by feelings of detachment, hopelessness, emotional numbing and reduced expression of moods. PTSD sufferers also are prone to irritability and outbursts of anger, they often have difficulty sleeping and concentrating. Many experience "survivors guilt," high levels of anxiety and stress and severe panic attacks.
PTSD often prevents returning soldiers, veterans and their families from living a normal life. A recent study from the National Center for PTSD reports that over half of PTSD sufferers had a lifetime diagnosis of alcoholism and over a third had a lifetime drug abuse diagnosis. In some cases, PTSD has led to suicide.
The Lane Evans Mental Health and Improvement Benefits Act makes five significant changes to positively impact mental health services for our nations servicemen and women and veterans:
- Extends VA Mental Health Care. Currently, there is only a two-year window to provide newly returning veterans free health care screening and referral services. Unfortunately, it can take many years for symptoms of PTSD and other mental health problems to manifest themselves. This bill would provide a five-year window for veterans to receive a free assessment of mental health medical needs by the VA.
- Requires face-to-face medical exams. DOD currently requires service members to answer an extremely basic questionnaire to determine if they need to be referred for treatment. Soldiers are typically in a rush to get back home when returning from a deployment and dont necessarily give these questions much thought. DOD should instead conduct mandatory individualized mental health screenings for every service member 30 to 90 days after deployment.
- Establishes a GWOT registry to track health care data. Registry would collect aggregate data on GWOT service members and veterans to monitor their healthcare and benefit use. The data will help lead to better budget forecasting and avoid shortfalls, and a similar effort was undertaken after the Gulf War.
- Requires equal transition services for Guardsmen and Reservists. A 2005 GAO report found that demobilization for guardsmen and reservists is accelerated and these units get abbreviated and fewer transition assistances.
- Requires Secure Electronic Records. DOD should provide a full, secure electronic copy of all medical records at the time of discharge.
John Terzano of Veterans for America states, Troops retuning from Iraq and Afghanistan are being treated by a broken system that ignores the unique needs specific to this generation of service members. The data collected and systemic changes included in Lane Evans Health and Benefits Improvement Acts are essential first steps to creating adequate and comprehensive programs that our service members and veterans are in desperate need of.
The bill has 38 cosponsors including: Shelley Berkley (D-CA), Howard Berman (D-CA), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Allen Boyd (D-FL), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Julia Carson (D-IN), Joe Crowley (D-NY), Sam Farr (D-CA), Bob Filner (D-CA), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Phil Hare (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mike Honda (D-CA), Steve Kagen (D-WI), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), James Langevin (D-RI), Ray LaHood (R-IL), Ed Markey (D-MA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Jim McDermott (D-WA), John Murtha (D-PA), Gerald Nadler (D-NY), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Colin Peterson (D-MN), Chris Shays (R-CT), Carol Shea-Porter (D-PA), James Ramstad (R-MN), Steve Rothman (D-NJ), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Pete Stark (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Robert Wexler (D-FL), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), David Wu (D-WA).
On the Senate side, Senators Barack Obama and Olympia Snowe are championing the companion legislation. |
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